Load binder



y 2, 1956 R. N. COLE ETAL 2,746,108

LOAD BINDER Filed July 11, 1952 IN V EN TORS Mv: 0058 w y T. 8068 52 AT TORME YS United States Patent Fall LOAD BINDER 'Ralph N. Cole and William T. .Cole, Canton, Ohio, as-

signors to The Canton Cast Products Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of (llrio Application .luiy 1 1, 1952, Serial No. 298,314

8 Claims. (CI. 24-68) The invention relates to tensioning devices of the type known as load binders for use with a chain or other flexible member to bind a load-of steel bars or sheets, pipes, logs or the like to a truck or other vehicle while in transit.

Load binders of the general type referred to as now in use comprise a lever arm 'having one end thereof oflt'set laterally and slotted or bifurcated, a swivel tongue being pivotally mounted within the bifurcation or slot by a pin orthe like, and a clevis straddling the offset end portion of the lever arm and being pivotally connected thereto by outwardly facing trunnions'.

Hooks are swiveled to the outer ends of the swivel tongue and the clevis for engaging opposite ends of a chain or the like for tightening the same around the load.

It has been found in practice that when such load binders are subjected to excessive strain or load the bifurcation or slotted end of the lever arm will tend to spread, producing corresponding spread of the legs of the clevis, resulting in detachment of the clevis from the trunnions 0r studs.

Such breakage or pulling part of the members of such a load binder may cause the load secured thereby to become displaced, often resulting in property damage and possible personalinjury or loss of life.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a load binder constructed so as to prevent such spreading of the parts and resultant breakage or pulling apart ofthe members.

Another-object is to provide a load binder in which the clevis is formed of two similar halves or-sections, each of which has a trunnion or stud at its inner end terminating in an angular projection received within a recessed aperture in the slotted or bifurcated end portion of the lever arm the two halves of the clevis being riveted or otherwise permanently secured together after being assembled upon the lever arm.

A further object is to provide such a load binder in which this pivotal connection of the clevis to the lever arm is located at a point spaced inwardly from the end of the lever arm.

Other objects are to provide such a load binder which is simple, durable and compact in construction, being formed of but few parts which may be readily assembled, and which is efficient in operation.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved load binder in the manner hereinter described in detail andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a load binder embodying the invention, shown in unlocked position and applied to opposite ends of a load encircling chain;

Fig. 2 an enlarged, fragmentary, ectional view or" the slotted or bifurcated end portion of the lever arm, showing the pivotal attachment of the clevis thereto;

Fig. '3 is an elevation of one of the two similar-halves of -the clevis;

Fig. 4 an outer end elevation of the clevis with the swiveled eye cut away *for the purpose of illustration; and

Fig. 5 a fragmentary, sectional View, taken on the line 55, Fig. 4, showing the manner in which the two halves of the clevis are riveted together.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, in which like reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the lever handle for the improved load binder-is indicated at 10. One-end'portion of the lever handle is laterally offset as at 11 so as to extend at a slight angle from the body of the lever and terminates in thebifuracted toe portion 12.

The inner side of the portion 11 of the lever arm is slotted or recessed, as indicated at 13, from the toe 12 through the heel 14. The inner endof the swiveltongue '15 is pivotally mounted within the bifurcated toe 12, as by the pin 16, and is adapted to be swung upon its pivot so as to be received within the recess or slot 13, as in conventional practice in the use of such load binders.

An eye 17 is swiveledwithin the outer end of the tongue 15 in usual manner and a hook 18 may be connected to said-eye through a link 19.

The clevis, indicated generally at 20, is pivotally connected to the heel portion 14 of the lever arm. The construction of this clevis and the manner in which it is pivotally connected to the lever arm is an important feature of the invention.

The clevis is formed of two similar halves, as indicated at 21, each having at its inner end an inwardly disposed stud or trunnion 22 adapted to be received in the opening 23 "in the corresponding ear of the heel portion 14 of the lever arm.

An angular projection 24 is formed upon the terminal end of each trunnion 22 and adapted to be received within the inwardly enlarged circular recess 25 communicating with the corresponding aperture 23.

The outer end of each member 21 of the clevis has the axial, semi-cylindrical groove 26 therein to receive the reduced shank 27 of the swiveled eye 28, flat, mating faces '29 being formed on each side of said groove and provided with apertures 30 for receiving rivets or the like for attaching the two members together.

Each half Zlof the clevis is preferably provided with mating bosses 31 and corresponding sockets 32 for properly aligning the two halves of the clevis.

The apertures 30, formed in the meeting flanges 33 of the two halves of the clevis, are preferably outwardly flared, as best shown in Fig. 5, so that when rivets 34 are located therethrough and upset the rivets will assume a dual, truncated cone shape, as shown in said figure, tending to wedge the two halves of the clevis tightly together. Each half 21 of the clevis may have a central, longitudinal, reinforcing rib 35 formed thereon in order to strengthen the same.

.In assembling the clevis upon the lever arm, each half 21 of the clevis is first inserted into the corresponding opening 23 in the adjacent side of the heel portion 14 0f the lever arm at an angle as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2. It will be seen that when thus inserted angularly the projection 24 upon the trunnion portion 22 of the clevis section will extend through the corresponding opening 23 into the recess 25. v

As the clevis sections are then swung toward each other to the full line position shown in Fig. 2, and ,attached together by riveting as above described, it will be seen that they will be permanently retained in pivotally mounted condition upon the lever arm and that whilethe composite clevis thus formed may be pivotally swung to any desired position relative to the lever arm,,it cannot become detached therefrom. l

3 Thus, regardless of the strain to which the load binder is subjected, there will be no tendency for the ears 14 at the heel of the lever arm to spread or for the legs of the clevis to spread or separate from the lever arm. The

wardly, as viewed in Fig. l, tending to move the heel portion 14 thereof downwardly and the toe portion 12 thereof upwardly relative to each other, and as the lever arm is moved to substantially vertical portion, as viewed in Fig. l, the toe portion 12 thereof will pass through the clevis 20 and the swiveledtongue 15 will be received in the recess 13 of the handle lever, drawing the two ends of the chain toward each other so as to bind the chain tightly around the objects to be bound, and as the handle lever passes over center it will lock the parts in this position.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the

construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodi- Y ments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claim-s. 1

We claim:

1. A load binder comprising a lever arm having a slotted end portion, a tongue pivotally attached to said lever arm within said slotted end portion, a clevis pivotally em bracing said slotted end portion at a point spaced from said tongue, hooks operatively connected to shanks swiveled to said tongue and clevis, said clevis being formed of two similar sections each having an angular trunnion at its inner end and an angular projection upon the end of said trunnion, there being apertures in the lever arm within which said trunnions are pivotally located, said angular projections engaging the inner sides of said slotted portion of the lever arm adjacent to said apertures to prevent removal of the clevis from the lever, there being mating axial semi-cylindrical grooves in the outer ends of the clevis sections, and means rigidly attaching the outer ends of the clevis sections together around the shank of the corresponding hook.

2. A load binder comprising a lever arm having a slotted end portion, a tongue pivotally attached to the end of said lever arm within said slotted end portion, a clevis pivotally embracing said slotted end portion at a point spaced inwardly from said tongue, hooks operatively connected to shanks swiveled to said tongue and clevis, said clevis being formed of two similar sections each having an angular trunnion at its inner end and an angular projection upon the end of said trunnion, there being apertures in the lever arm within which said trunnions are pivotally located, said annular projection engaging the inner sides of said slotted portion of the lever arm adjacent to said apertures to prevent removal of the clevis from the lever, there being mating axial semi-cylindrical grooves in the outer ends of the clevis sections, and means rigidly attachthe shank of the corresponding book.

3. A load binder comprising a lever arm having a slotted end portion, a tongue pivotally attached to said lever arm within said slottted end portion, a clevis pivotally embracing said slotted end portion at a point spaced from said tongue, hooks operatively connected to shanks swiveled to said tongue and clevis, said clevis being formed of two similar sections each having an angular trunnion at its inner end and an angular projection upon the end of said trunnion, there being apertures in the lever arm within which said trunnions are pivotally located, said angular projections engaging the inner sides of said slotted portion of the lever arm adjacent to said apertures to prevent removal of the clevis from the lever, there being mating axial semi-cylindrical grooves in the outer ends of the clevis sections, mating bosses and sockets formed at the outer ends of the clevis sections, and means rigidly attaching the outer ends of the clevis sections together around the shank of the corresponding hook.

4. A load binder comprising a lever am having a slotted end portion, a tongue pivotally attached to said lever arm within said slotted end portion, a clevis pivotally embracing said slotted end portion at a point spaced from said tongue, hooks operatively connected to shanks swiveled to said tongue and clevis, said clevis being formed of two similar sections each having an angular trunnion at its inner end and an angular projection upon the end of said trunnion, there being apertures in the lever arm within which said trunnions are pivotally located, said angular projections engaging the inner sides of said slotted portion of the lever arm adjacent to said apertures to prevent re moval of the clevis from the lever, there being mating axial semi-cylindrical grooves in the outer ends of the clevis sections, and dual truncated conical rivets rigidly attaching the outer ends of the clevis sections together around the shank of the corresponding hook.

5. A load binder comprising a lever arm having a slotted end portion, a tongue pivotally attached to said lever arm within said slotted end portion, a clevis pivotally embracing said slotted end portion at a point spaced from said tongue, hooks operatively connected to shanks swiveled to said tongue and clevis, said clevis being formed of two similar sections each having an angular trunnion at its inner end and an angular projection upon the end of said trunnion, there being apertures in the lever arm within which said trunnions are pivotally located, said apertures having inwardly enlarged recesses communicating therewith, said angular projections being received in said recesses to prevent removal of the clevis from the lever, there being mating axial semi-cylindrical grooves in the outer ends of the clevis sections, and means rigidly attaching the outer ends of the clevis-sections together around the shank of the corresponding hook.

6. In combination with a lever arm having a spaced pair of cars each having an aperture therein, a clevis formed of two similar sections each having an angular trunnion at its inner end pivotally. located in one of said apertures and an angular projection on the end of said trunnion engaging the inner side of the corresponding ear adjacent to said apertures to prevent removal of the clevis from the lever, there being mating semi-cylindrical grooves in the outer ends of the clevis sections, a headed shank swiveled in said grooves, and means rigidly connecting the outer ends of the clevis sections together around said shank.

7. A load binder comprising a lever arm having a bifurcated portion, there being an aperture in each furcation, a clevis embracing said bifurcated portion of the lever, said clevis comprising two similar separable sections each having an angular trunnion located through the aperture in the adjacent furcation, angular projections upon the ends of said trunnions engaging the inner sides of the furcations to prevent removal of the clevis from the lever,

in said mating grooves, and means rigidly attaching said outer ends of the clevis sections together.

8. A load binder comprising a lever arm having a bifurcated portion, there being an aperture in each furcation, a clevis embracing said bifurcated portion of the lever, said clevis comprising two similar separable sections each having an angular trunnion located through the aperture in the adjacent furcation, angular projections upon the ends of said trunnions engaging the inner sides of the furcations to prevent removal of the clevis from the lever, there being mating axial semi-cylindrical grooves in the outer ends of the clevis sections, a headed shank swiveled in said mating grooves, and rivets rigidly attaching said outer ends of the clevis sections together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sullivan June 20, Goolsby et a1 Aug. 18, Montgomery Nov. 1, Shakespeare June 1,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 4, Great Britain Jan. 12, Sweden Jan. 19, Switzerland Ian. 2, 

